Herb Score 05/07/57
Apr. 7, 1963 - Herb Score, for whom the Boston Red Sox once offered the Cleveland Indians $1 million, quit baseball today after a frustrating 6-year comeback attempt. The once-great southpaw made his decision when he was told by the Chicago White Sox he was to be optioned to Indianapolis. Score broke into the majors with Cleveland in 1955, when he compiled a 16-10 record, had a 2.85 earned-run average, and was named American League rookie of the year. He struck out 245 batters in 1955, a major league rookie record. In 1956, Score improved on his rookie campaign, going 20–9 with a 2.53 earned-run average and 263 strikeouts, while reducing his walks from 154 to 129. But in the first inning of a game against the Yankees on May 7, 1957, disaster struck (pictured). Score was hit over the right eyebrow by a scorching line drive off the bat of Gil McDougald, breaking the pitcher’s facial bones and injuring his eye. It sidelined him for the season, and he never did regain his form. McDougald, who retired in 1960, today called it “one of the biggest tragedies in baseball.” “He was the greatest, I guess — as fast or faster than any pitcher I’ve ever seen, and he had a great curve too,” Gil remarked. When asked to recall the unhappy memory of seeing a baseball driven by his bat smash into Score’s face, McDougald said: “I’ve been asked about it at every banquet. How many different ways can you answer it? I try to tell them you don’t have any control over where the ball goes once you hit it. I don’t even remember hitting the ball, it all happened so fast. I saw what happened right away, but I’d have to see movies to remember whether I ran to first. I think I ran halfway and stopped when I saw him crumble. He never had time to get his glove up. I wasn’t allowed to see him in the hospital, but the doctors kept in touch with me on his progress. When I finally saw him, he told me not to feel bad. I know I faced him in a game after the accident, and I think he became a little shell-shocked, in baseball terms. Any time you get hurt, you guard against the same thing happening again, and I don’t think he was throwing his natural way afterwards, but was more conscious of getting into his follow-through. I haven’t seen him personally in several years, but I’ve followed his career. I really wanted him to come back.”
Herb Score 05/07/57
Apr. 7, 1963 - Herb Score, for whom the Boston Red Sox once offered the Cleveland Indians $1 million, quit baseball today after a frustrating 6-year comeback attempt. The once-great southpaw made his decision when he was told by the Chicago White Sox he was to be optioned to Indianapolis. Score broke into the majors with Cleveland in 1955, when he compiled a 16-10 record, had a 2.85 earned-run average, and was named American League rookie of the year. He struck out 245 batters in 1955, a major league rookie record. In 1956, Score improved on his rookie campaign, going 20–9 with a 2.53 earned-run average and 263 strikeouts, while reducing his walks from 154 to 129. But in the first inning of a game against the Yankees on May 7, 1957, disaster struck (pictured). Score was hit over the right eyebrow by a scorching line drive off the bat of Gil McDougald, breaking the pitcher’s facial bones and injuring his eye. It sidelined him for the season, and he never did regain his form. McDougald, who retired in 1960, today called it “one of the biggest tragedies in baseball.” “He was the greatest, I guess — as fast or faster than any pitcher I’ve ever seen, and he had a great curve too,” Gil remarked. When asked to recall the unhappy memory of seeing a baseball driven by his bat smash into Score’s face, McDougald said: “I’ve been asked about it at every banquet. How many different ways can you answer it? I try to tell them you don’t have any control over where the ball goes once you hit it. I don’t even remember hitting the ball, it all happened so fast. I saw what happened right away, but I’d have to see movies to remember whether I ran to first. I think I ran halfway and stopped when I saw him crumble. He never had time to get his glove up. I wasn’t allowed to see him in the hospital, but the doctors kept in touch with me on his progress. When I finally saw him, he told me not to feel bad. I know I faced him in a game after the accident, and I think he became a little shell-shocked, in baseball terms. Any time you get hurt, you guard against the same thing happening again, and I don’t think he was throwing his natural way afterwards, but was more conscious of getting into his follow-through. I haven’t seen him personally in several years, but I’ve followed his career. I really wanted him to come back.”